Syeda was interested in joining the Civil Service before joining the course. After reading the course information, Syeda thought it would be a good step to take to help with her journey towards a Civil Service career. Since completing the course, Syeda has gone on to gain employment as an Admin Officer within the Civil Service, and we are extremely proud of the progress that Syeda has made!

How did you find out about the training?
I was initially told about the training by Susan from Birmingham – Summerhill Job Centre. She gave me some details about the Civil Service course and how it would enhance my knowledge and give me the ability to develop my skills. I had also been speaking with Julie from the National Careers Service
who I contacted about the course and she referred me directly to Release Potential.

Why did you decide to join?
The course information I’d been given sounded really interesting and I felt it would give a good insight into the Civil Service overall so I would have a better understanding when applying for roles. I thought I’d be able to learn more about how I could support others in a similar situation which was
very appealing. I was very interested in learning new things and thought my chances of securing a role within the Civil Service would be enhanced, based on what knowledge the training would give me.

What did you think of the training? How did it help you?
The training was a lifesaver. I was shown ways to adapt the format of my CV to be more suitable, I learned about personal and behaviour statements and the application of them when applying for a Civil Service role. I gained insight into what steps I’d need to take to be successful. It was a really
positive learning experience with a group of diverse people from other backgrounds, cultures and countries. The interview skills I acquired were fantastic and the feedback I received following my submitted work was extremely useful in highlighting areas for suggested improvements.

Were there any barriers or obstacles you had to overcome?
No barriers or obstacles to speak of. My new baby was a motivator for me to succeed, as was the training which gave me confidence when applying for varied types of roles.

What are you doing now?
I’m working as an Admin Officer within the Civil Service.

What impact has the training had on your life?
The training has had a fruitful impact on me. If I hadn’t attended, I’d never have had the confidence to apply and therefore wouldn’t have secured my role. My previous training and qualifications I had from my primary school teaching weren’t transferable to be in the same role in the UK. Through
working with Release Potential I was motivated to apply for jobs and I discovered more about the strengths I had which was really good for me.

What are your plans for the future?
My plans are to stay within the Civil Service and continue to develop myself and my skills. In time I would like to work within Immigration if possible, and feel confident about how to successfully complete the tests to achieve this goal. Release Potential and the Job Centre really made me believe I could succeed.

What would you say to someone who was thinking about doing the training but wasn’t sure?
I’d recommend anyone who is eligible, to do the training. Your confidence will grow and you will learn about, and understand your strengths and weaknesses, and how to improve in those areas. The training will give you a much better idea of which roles would suit you best based on your skills and interests.